The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-01-05

the apple harvest; the iau OF the lea1
the change from puckcr to sugar IN the
pulp OF the persinimors-wcre way
marks, impatiently numbered, IN the
procession Of months and weeks toward
the eliminating glory OF the year.
Housekeepers commenced preparations
for it in sober earnest by the last week
of November, especially in the country.
The traditions OF our English ancestry
told nightly in modelling our habits Of
life.
'.cHEIsIM.As n TowS
was deprecated with a dash OF compass
sionate contempt by planters and their
families They kept open houses at that
season with hcartiness that looks to US
now Ike bootless eXtrayagance. The
premises were set in order early ii De
cember as for royal nuptials and colut
banquets. 1iince-meat WAS already
made, moistencd with peach brandy IL
quantity and quality sufficient to season
it against must and mould, then packed
down in huge jars, and bladders tied
over the mouths. With the first hard
frost came ':hog killing" providing
hams. spare rios, chimes and sausases OF
deliciousness ininitable: and TO those
who never tasted them, unlmaglnabie.
Pots Of lard, ':tried out into snowy
hardness, were ranged on the stoce-room
shelves, destined to furnish hot baths
for the broods OF summer chickens.
cooped up, and fattened on oats and
mush. Pens were built for stately tur-
KEYS and pompous Muscoyy ducks, and
the tenants fed is regularly and houliti
fully rs were the children WHO hoped 10
eat them. Later on, came cake making,
never intrustcd to the hand ol lirclinGS;
fruit cake, with just enough flour
wrought into it to hold together the fat
and liberal soul; pound cake. into whose
manufacture sixteen ounces vi cach III
sredient was riSlteolls.y compounded; !;
ginger cakes, warranted to keep 1or
months; spice and lemon cakes, and, in
the last days OF Joyous activity, sponge
cake, nodded and frosted into snoH-balis
as big as the fist, and owing their buoy
ant being to eggs and elbow-powcr, with
not SO much as dust of baking pow
ders. English plum pudding was not
made in every family. On the threshold
of this emprise, dilfident housewives and
ease. loving cooks paused, dreadlnS and
daunted. Only veteran divers, plunging
into the depths OF ancestral recipes,
brought up success and established q
culinary reputation Wanted by children
and childrens children. AS December
nights grew toward their longest and
December days neared the brieiess OF
the calendar, feather-bcds were beaten
for ten minutes each, by the faii-like
arms of colored housemaids, under the
eve of the mistress or her factotum, and
provision of blankets, sheets, otc., made
for temporary sleeping-places. On a
rainy or snowy day, an armful OF straw,
fastened to the end of a pole, was thrust
up the throat OF every chimney to burn
out the encrusting SCOT Hens, melted
to the full measure OF their duty by arts
peculiar to colored poultry keepers,
Welded eggs by the hundreds for pud-
dings and pies, with especial reserves Tor
egg-nog.
El CltNiolLI-IS LNI-
every pantry was packed to Sroaning;
comets Of flame and galaxy OF sparks
streamed from i've kitchen chimney:
every eligible nook held a bed; a dozen
Young girls with attendant gal!ants sCr-
rounded the drawing-room fire; the
play of repartee and compliment, and
the ripple OF light laughter rose and
ebbed to tie piano accompaniment re-
sponsive to the sweep of white fingers.
City guests were always bid6'en and a.
ways came to the plantation Christmas
froic. Company was no trouble;
hospitality was as natural and easy Us
breathing. But the holiday reception
was the cream OF welcome to the visitor.
Ii eight bachelors slept ana smoked III
'sthe Office III the yard, and as many
girls occupied the onc spare chamber c;
the homestead, nobody felt crowded.
There were plenty Of feather beds anG
blankets, great store OF linen lelrlooms
that required the wear OF two genera
tions to make theul thin, and big tlres
burning ali night IL every apartment for
ventilations.
Supper would be served at $ o'clock,
perhaps later. y rcpast OF hot irlcd OF
':smothcrcd" chicken, stewcd oysters.
four or five kinds Of cold meats: w"i'ie:,,
hot rolls, corn bread in divers Shapes.
battercakes, wafers--a> thin Is pa2rr,
that yielded crisply 10 the trc,i! and
stimulated, hot satisfied, a2pctitc-,sisl4-
son. melon, peach, ounce. straw.':.s'3;.
and cherry preserves; homc-nadc c;,!.,>
tea, coffee and great pitchers OF NIX
with Ill the cream left on.
In spite OF the luxurious abundance .!
their menus, the Virginians OF that ,i:;te
were seldom gornl;,ndlzcrs. There y:;:s
little talk il well-bred companies OF cat
ing and drinking. Srmptuous fare was
accepted as part of theii ,iaily living.
and even high feasts were never mere
feeds Ii they fingered over their
supper on this evening i was IN ENJOY
.nent OF social converse, not OF groSscI
creature comforts.
THE PLANTATION FIDDLER
was in his place at the top Of the long
.lrawing-room when tie hilarious bcvE
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